Reader Comments (6)

Author: Gareth MorganPosition: SecretaryInstitution: Welsh Aspirin GroupE-mail: morgan@fforrdbeck.fsnet.co.ukSubmitted Date: March 28, 2008Published Date: April 1, 2008This comment was originally posted as a “Reader Response” on the publication date indicated above. All Reader Responses are now available as comments.

Five years ago, my Kaplan-Meier survival curve model suggested that taking daily low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylate) from the age of 50 years might double the chances of surviving into the tenth decade of life (1). A more recent observational study of 20,000 men and women aged 45 – 79 years in east England found that 4 factors namely regular exercise, 1-14 units of alcohol per week (unit = glass of wine or half pint of beer), eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day and not currently smoking might prolong life by 14 years (2). From my model, low-dose aspirin started at the age of 50 years might prolong life by 6-9 years. Of importance and interest would be the combined effect of the 4 factors and low-dose aspirin on survival.

Telomeres are unique protective protein–DNA structures found at the end of chromosomes. Telomere length decreases with age but lifestyle appears to influence this, for example individuals who take regular exercise have longer telomere length compared to less active individuals (3). Smoking and obesity are also associated with reductions in telomere length (4) although the latter may also have a genetic influence (5). Perhaps low-dose aspirin, or more generally the intake of dietary salicylate in fruits and vegetables, could help prolong survival and slow the ageing process by reducing the rate of telomere shortening (6). Experimentally, this hypothesis may be tested in the adult population given the wide usage of aspirin but perhaps children may also benefit from increased exposure to salicylate, for example by having reduced risk of diseases like asthma (7) and childhood cancer (8). If salicylate does beneficially effect telomere length then this might strengthen the case to reclassify it as an essential micronutrient possibly with the name of ‘vitamin s’ (8).